FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2015 VOL. 42, NO. 08
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Sitting down with Sturdy
Representatives from Bowen open up dialogue with local MLA
A taste of Singapore
Another adventure for your taste buds, brought to you by Rob Bailey
Runner’s diary
After training week 6, an aspiring runner reflects
Students at Island Discovery Learning Centre enjoy a morning sing-a-long with the school’s founder and principle, Allan Saugstead. The Learning Centre has been awarded with an innovation award by the Canadian Education Association. Story on p.3 Meribeth Deen, photo
Council takes a stand on LNG in Howe Sound MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR
This week’s municipal council meeting started with a plea to hold-off on a resolution made by councillor Sue Ellen Fast that recommends taking a position on the Woodfibre LNG project. Councillors learned that deadline for comments on the project’s environmental assesment has been extended by 15 days from the previous deadline of March 9. However, after a single presentation and some discussion, a majority of councillors voted to move with councillor Fast’s suggestion, and draft a letter of concern about the proposed LNG export facility to be built near Squamish. Barinda Rasode introduced herself during the public comment session as a former councilllor with the City of Surrey, and the current director social responsibility at Resource Works, a non-profit organization that does research on the value of the resource industry in British Columbia. “My work and my role as a mom has lead me to believe that sustainability has three pil-
lars, social, economic and environmental. And in my conversations with my children about their future, I have learned that these conversations need to be fact-based. I am here to humbly request that motion 5.1 that is before you, if I could ask you to defer that to a later date following a time when Resource Works could make a presentation to your council.” Rasode said that her organization will be presenting in Squamish on March 3, and that if given the opportunity to present, they will provide all the information required for council to do due-diligence on the issue of the Woodfibre LNG project. Rasode’s plea was followed by a larger presentation made by Boyer Island resident Eoin Finn, who described himself as an accidental activist on the LNG issue. “About a year ago I became aware of a project called Woodfibre LNG to be set-up on the Northern part of Howe Sound, and I didn’t know much about it at the time, but as I researched it -and I’ve been researching every since then, I became more and more alarmed,” said Finn. In his presentation, Finn placed the Woodfibre project within the larger context of the reindustrialization of Howe Sound; the environmental and economic promises of the LNG industry; and the shipping technology and potential safety hazards.
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2 • FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27 2015
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Bowen’s economic development, LNG, on the table with MLA Sturdy
Suspected whooping cough cases bring vaccination issue home MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR
Measles outbreaks in Europe, California, Ontario and Quebec have made vaccination a hot topic in the news. The subject was brought home to Bowen Island recently with one unconfirmed case of the whooping cough in a child attending Bowen Island Montessori School, and one misdiagnosed case of whooping cough at the Bowen Island Children’s Centre. Helen Davenport, director of the Montessori School says she let Vancouver Coastal Health know about the suspected case right away, was passed on to the Centre for Disease Control, and was told that any unvaccinated children attending the school should stay home for 21 days if the test came back positive. The pertussis (whooping cough) test on the child attending Montessori was inconclusive, and Dr. Mark Lysyshyn, medical officer of health for Vancouver
Coastal Health (VCH) says that this is not an uncommon result. He adds that the disease crops-up sporadically in the Lower Mainland, but that VCH doesn’t keep it on the list of communicable diseases unless there are multiple doctors reports flagging it. “Generally, people get more concerned than they should,” says Lysyshyn. “But the proper response to that concern is to get immunized.” He adds that currently, VCH is on a push to improve North Shore Vaccination rates and is in the middle of a two-year telephone survey with parents of children born in the region, asking for the dates on which the children were immunized as well as reasons those immunizations may have been delayed or may not have happened at all. “This kind of information is important to help approve and assess our immunization programs,” says Lysyshyn.
The most up-to-date statistics on Bowen Island’s vaccination rates, collected by VCH public health nurses as children enter kindergarten:
From left: Bowen Island Municipal Councillor Maureen Nicholson, Economic Development Committee Chair Gordon Ganong and West Vancouver Sea-to-Sky MLA Jordon Sturdy. Sharon Thompson, photo
MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR
Bowen Island Municipal Councillor Maureen Nicholson and Economic Development Committee Chair Gordon Ganong met with MLA Jordan Sturdy last Friday in order to discuss local economic development and other issues related to Bowen Island.
“It was a very valuable meeting, I think,” says councillor Nicholson. “We really got the ball rolling on a conversation that needs to continue happening, and will continue happening.” Nicholson says that Sturdy plans to meet both with the Bowen Island Municipal Transportation Advisory Committee (BIMTAC) and Peter King by the end of March.
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Island Discovery Learning Centre recognized for innovation in education MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR
The Canadian Education Association (CAE) has awarded Bowen Island’s Island Discovery Learning Community (IDLC) with the Ken Spencer Award for innovation. The award recognizes schools that “have impactful programs that embed deep learning while challenging our traditional concept of school.” Eighty schools across Canada applied for the award, seven of them will be awarded a grant of $1,000 from the CAE. “This is a wonderful acknowledgement of the tireless work our founding mothers, staff and families have done over the years to make Island Discovery an educationally innovative and sustainable program,” says IDLC Founder and Principal Allan Saugstad. “So many of us have worked to build this model of flexible and student-centered learning embodying the B.C. Education Ministry goals of 21st century learning.” Saugstad and a group of dedicated parents created IDLC in 2003. At the time, Saugstad was looking for an educational alternative for his daughters, who were 5 and 7 years old. “Five days a week in the classroom just seemed like too much,” says Saugstad. “My wife Anne-Michelle and I wanted to be really involved in their education, to have a lot of time with them, and to have a really gentle learning environment.” Since that beginning, the Island Discovery model has expanded to include groups in North Vancouver, Vancouver, Surrey, Kamloops, Penticton, Abbotsford, Saltspring Island and Victoria. There are 390 kids enrolled overall, 80 of them on Bowen. Here on Bowen, students have the option to attend classes two and a half days a week. A visit to the
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Cowan centre proves that Saugstad has definitely achieved one of his key goals in the creating an educational environment – a place where kids can take their shoes off and lessons can take place with students in a cozy living room space. Teacher Amy Nosek has been working at IDLC since 2005, and for the bulk of her career. This year, she is working with students from grade 5 to 8, but has taught every age group including kindergarten. She says that because IDLC offers “supported home learning,” which aims to recognize that learning happens in all kinds of different situations, diverse approaches to learning are offered up on a daily basis.
...when I say there are diverse approaches to learning, I am talking about what is offered by teachers, what happens in real life, or simply what the kids are interested in. “Every family approaches learning differently,” she says. “Also, when I say there are diverse approaches to learning, I am talking about what is offered by teachers, what happens in real life, or simply what the kids are interested in.” Nosek adds that one of the things she really loves about teaching at IDLC, is having the opportunity to really honour the kids by helping them delve into whatever it may be that they are passionate about and interested in.
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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27 2015 • 3
As part of its regular water system maintenance program, the Municipality will flush water mains in Bowen Bay, Blue Water Park, Cove Bay, Eagle Cliff, Hood Point, King Edward Bay and Tunstall Bay from March 9 – April 17, 2015. This procedure is necessary to remove sediment that gradually deposits in the pipes and will not pose a health hazard. Municipal staff will try to minimize any inconvenience. Flushing will take place 7 days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in most neighbourhoods. Please note: Snug Cove and Cates Hill to Millers Landing areas will be flushed on March 9 to alleviate water interruption for Bowen Island Community School. Every effort will be made to ensure that water quality is not affected but some turbidity and higher than normal chlorine concentrations may be present for short periods of time. Running your tap briefly should clear this up. In addition, temporary pressure fluctuations may occur. For more information call Bob Robinson, Public Works Superintendent at 604-947-4255. Reminder It is recommended that water users with compromised immune systems ensure their drinking water is boiled, filtered or distilled. • 981 Artisan Lane, Bowen Island, BC, V0N 1G2 • TEL: 604-947-4255 • FAX: 604-947-0193 • • e-mail: bim@bimbc.ca • website: www.bimbc.ca •
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4 • FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27 2015
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Published by Bowen Island Undercurrent a division of LMP Publication Limited Partnership, #102 - 495 Government Rd. Bowen Island, B.C. V0N 1G0
viewpoint
EDITORIAL
The success of Cymbeline
Pick up parties
MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR
On Saturday, inspired by the likes of Sam Knowles I took to the streets. Well, actually, I just took to my street, with a bag and a rake and a strong desire to remove as many piles of poop and bags of poop (doggie, I’m thinking) as possible. Sam Knowles took action on her pet peeve, and I decided to take action on mine. As I cleaned up the many messes along my short street I fumed. How can we brag about what a great community we are, when so many of us can not even bother to put their litter (and poop) in the appropriate place? Not doing so not only shows a lack of pride, but also a lack of consideration. Public space does not exist for the benifit of your personal mess. As a child of the 1980s, I was highly
To the Editor,
influenced by the massive anti-littering campaign that I digested alongide my Saturday morning cartoons. I thought this issue was tackled ages ago. Clearly I was wrong, but that said, how do we change this? The municipality helps out citizen initiatives on these matters when it is called upon, and I appreciate that. But I think that on such small, yet important matters, we could use a little leadership. A municipally-organized community Spring clean-up, with neighbourhood block parties at the end could help motivate, and who knows... even shift the spirit of things in a more positive direction. Until then, I’ll just keep at my own pet-task during my Saturday morning toddler-walks down Oceanview. And I’ll take comfort knowing that, once a week I will be doing one small thing to make a positive impact. Although I wish I didn’t have to.
The Write Stuff. The Undercurrent encourages reader participation in your community newspaper. You must include your full name and a daytime phone number (for verification only). The editor reserves the right to edit for clarity, legality, brevity and taste.
Graham Ritchie
A big thank you for making Operation Red Nose happen Dear Editor, The Rotary Club of Bowen Island (RCBI) has completed the fifth annual Operation Red Nose (ORN) with the help of Rudy and his many friends on Bowen Island. We are grateful for the support, participation and friendship of our islanders. On the program’s nine evenings in November and December, The Snug Cafe provided a warm space and a telephone for the ORN operations office and volunteer lounge. On the ORN nights, addition to the members of The RCBI, we were joined by volunteer Friends of Rotary: Elizabeth Ballantyne, Peter Baumgartner, Ann Campbell, Jason Campbell, Martin Clarke, Leah Cline, Liz Hammond, Doug Harding, Adam Holbrook, Portia Lynn, Judith McBride, Glen McGregor, Sam Nosek, Bruce Russell, Maureen Sawasy, and Barbara Wahler. We also thank Melanie McLeod at the RCMP Detachment for processing the required Criminal Record checks so efficiently. We are grateful to the following Bowen Island businesses who provided gifts and food as “thank you’s” to our volunteers: Artisan Eats, The Ruddy Potato, The Rustique Bistro, The Bowen Island Golf Club, The Orchard, The Tuscany Restaurant, and The Snug Cafe.
Here’s how. To submit a letter to the editor, fax 604-947-0148 or mail it to #102, 495 Government Rd., PO Box 130, Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G0 or email editor@ bowenislandundercurrent.com. B.C. Press Council. The Undercurrent is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the province’s newspaper industry. The council considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input from both the newspaper and the complaint holder. If talking with the editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council. Your written concern, with documentation, should be sent to B.C. Press Council, 201 Selby St., Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2R2. For information, phone 1-888-687-2213 or go to www.bcpresscouncil.org.
All Advertising and news copy content are copyright of the Undercurrent Newspaper. All editorial content submitted to the Undercurrent becomes the property of the publication. The undercurrent is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, art work and photographs. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Please allow me to use your pages to thank the many people who worked behind the scenes to make last weekend’s run of Shakespeare’s Cymbeline such a success. Stage Manager Maureen Sawasy was deeply involved from the first rehearsal back in November and her command of all the details allowed the director to take early retirement days before the final performance. Ian Davidson’s textured lighting was a vital ingredient for a set consisting solely of black backdrops, as were of course the many costumes by the first lady of Bowen theatre, the one and only Shirley Wrinch, aided and abetted by her skilled assistants Rebecca Tunnacliffe and Janina Micko. Trevor Tunnacliffe composed, and he and friends played, the atmospheric musical interludes and the tune for the play’s Fear No More, sung by The Voice herself, Katalina Bernards. Jon Ritchie edited the music and sound effects and set up the playback program.
The volunteers of the Bowen Island Public Library handled all the ticket sales with their usual grace and efficiency, many thanks to them and the library staff for their time and energy. Tanya Voormeij-de Zwart created the striking poster, program front, Forum banner and tickets, and Frazer Elliott laid out the program. Frazer also arranged the fight scenes and probably shortened his lifespan considerably by also arranging to be flung to the stage from a great height every night in his second role as the muchbruised peasant. Gerald Morrisseau’s cunning way with leather attached swords, daggers and armour safely to the actors, backed up by Pete’s Ryan Metalworks. Island Pacific School kindly loaned us the use of space where the cast could don their costumes, armour and weapons. And last but definitely not least, a big thank-you to Bowen’s Shaw Cable and Elliott Real Estate.
#102–495 Bowen Trunk Road, PO Box 130, Bowen Island BC, V0N 1G0 Phone: 604.947.2442 Fax: 604.947.0148 Deadline for all advertising and editorial: Monday, 4:00p.m. www.bowenislandundercurrent.com
Our sponsors are recognized for cash donations of $50.00 or more to the ORN program. All donations to ORN stay on Bowen Island to support youth programs. We are deeply thankful to the following sponsors: the Bowen Island Golf Club, Bowen Irly Building Centre, Wolfgang Duntz, The Bowen Island Pub, Bowen Waste Management, Phoenix on Bowen, Cates Pharmacy, Peter King, and The Ruddy Potato. In addition to these sponsors, we are grateful to our clients who responsibly took Rudy’s option of having ORN drive them home and also provided us with cash donations. This holiday season, ORN 2014 raised about $2,400.00 to support youth programs on Bowen Island. The RCBI is interested in exploring suggestions from the Bowen Island community on how these funds might be used. If you have some ideas, please talk to us about it. With sincere thanks again to all involved, Robert Ballantyne and Denis Lynn, RCBI Coordinators ORN 2014
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Community support makes all the difference
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27 2015 • 5
Some thoughts on Woodfibre LNG Dear Editor,
Roberta Hardie and Carol MacKinnon.
Lorraine Ashdown, photo
Dear Editor, This fall, I entered a Masters of Divinity program at Vancouver School of Theology at UBC. I had been considering this move for a few decades and finally decided to make the commitment. There are quite few things that go into making a decision like this but the bottom line is that I have agreed to show up every week and to be as “present” as possible for the next three years. When any of us decide to take on a sizable commitment, it is rare that we do it alone. Since September I have been held and supported by numerous people in our community. I started a Fund-Aid campaign in the fall and through that I received many generous donations from islanders. People often stop me in the Cove and say, “How’s school going?” with a sincere inquiry and a smile. And last Sunday night, my dear friends held a fundraiser for me at Collins Hall. It was an evening of fun, food, song and lots and lots of loving support. I am keenly aware of how lucky we are to have this Bowen Community to hold us “in sickness and health, for richer or for poorer.” The circle that wraps itself around me and supports me has been drawn wide and I am extremely grateful for that source of support and encouragement. On Sunday evening there were full bowls of chili and plates of delicious salad and dessert; wine and music; tables decorated with flowers and windows draped with links of colourful paper cranes compliments of Ted Spear and IPS students. The room was alive with laughter and extraordinary goodwill. Thank you to my dear friends Dyan Spear,
Mars, the miniature horse, getting a pedicure.
John Dowler, photo
Liz Watson and Carol MacKinnon who masterminded the whole event. Thank you to Rev. Sheilagh MacKinnon for your clever and very funny emcee talents. Thank you Sue Hetherington for filling in many blanks and serving the yummy food. Thank you Susan Munro for being in the kitchen as well and making things move so smoothly. Thank you to Suzanne Allan who stayed after the event and helped with the clean up. Thank you to Lynn Williams and the Madz for the “VST Blues”; Kristin Jarvis for a homemade love song written for me; Chris Corrigan for Neil Young; Shasta Martinuk and the Threshold Singers for lullabies; Brian Hoover for drums and spirit; Alison Nixon for Bach and yet another song of support; Nicholas Belluck and Lilliana Belluck for cello/violin extradorinaire; Bob Doucet for laughter and melancholy: Carol MacKinnon and Roberta Hardie for a very hearty giggle; Shelagh Sparks for playing the piano without skipping a beat; my dear “Billies”-Liz Watson and Susan Munro who created our “Billies” blend; Andrew Stone for collecting the sound gear, setting it up, returning it and donating his own lighting gear to the event; BIMA for lending us wine glasses; The Community Choir and Rob Cairns for the stage and Ted Spear and Ian Watson for tear down and clean up muscle contribution. The final thank you is to my dear friends who came from town and to our beloved Bowen Community for showing your support and for giving me wings. We have a little slice of heaven here on earth and I am extremely grateful for all of your support and generosity. Lorraine Ashdown
In the 1970s when my family settled on Passage Island, the industrial age was coming to an end in Howe Sound. Brittania mine had just closed leaving behind a daily discharge of heavy metals that formed a plume far into Howe Sound while Woodfibre pulp mill would continue spewing it’s fetid sulphur oxides and volatile organic compounds into the air until it finally closed in 2006. Fast-forwarding 45 years and now a Bowen Islander, I am reflecting on the changes that millions of dollars of taxpayer investment has brought to our fragile ecosystem. Howe Sound today supports a population of humpback, killer and grey whales, pods of Pacific white-sided dolphins, spawning salmon and herring. Meanwhile, a parade of vessels passes by my window daily: tugs with sawdust barges, log booms, container ships, fishing boats, ferries, sailboats and kayaks. Suddenly, we are in the closing weeks of the environmental review for the Woodfibre LNG facility, a project that poses substantial ecological and safety risks already widely covered in the press. I am trying to imagine how things will change in the event that the 13,000 large vessel movements in Howe Sound each year are augmented by 100 to 360 sailings of LNG tankers. What exactly are the advantages to our community for shouldering the risks? The proponent’s public relations materials identify jobs, royalties, and tax revenues as benefits, yet are suspiciously silent regarding whether those outcomes will directly translate into jobs and revenues here at ground zero. The creation of 100 permanent jobs is estimated for the Woodfibre LNG facility. This is an impressively small number of jobs for a region with a population of 2.8 million. Worse, even the most optimistic advocates make no promises those jobs will be for locals and not filled by temporary foreign workers as happened at the Tumbler Ridge coal mine. The literature also estimates 650 skilled jobs will be needed to develop the project but since it will be entirely assembled in South Korea, that won’t constitute a significant economic benefit to our region. The notion that Woodfibre LNG will be designed and built by Canadian engineers, scientists, contractors and technicians may very well be a figment of wishful optimism: there is no guarantee or even suggestion that the preponderance of jobs for this project will be local. We need our Provincial and Municipal governments to demand that Howe Sound development is ecologically and socially benign while also giving us a fair economic return for the risks we are encumbering. Purely by the numbers, every dollar invested in recreation, fisheries, arts, and tourism produces a higher percentage of real, local jobs than that same investment in resource extraction. According to the 2012 British Columbia Financial & Economic Review, the biggest employers in our province are : • • • • •
construction (205,000 jobs), manufacturing (164,000 jobs) tourism (127,000 jobs) real estate & property development (121,000 jobs) technology (84,000 jobs).
By comparison, the entire mining, oil, and gas industry employs just 1% of the workforce, 67,000 jobs. Suggesting that 100 jobs is significant in face of the risks involved is downright insulting and holds high potential to stifle the developing sustainable industries in this picturesque corridor. The influx of indirect jobs would be welcome, but they will come with the launch of any new investment in Howe Sound: an art museum, a real estate development, or a new gondola. Some investments bring even greater returns – relatively small industries like film, produce much greater spillover employment in addition to decades of future tourism sparked by iconic franchises such as Rocky, the X-Files, and Twilight. Howe Sound’s watersheds provide an estimated $800 million to $4.7 billion in natural services to the region each year, according to a report released by the David Suzuki Foundation. Compare this to the LNG proponents’ optimistic estimate of $80 million in tax revenues to be spread across three levels of government. That number is pocket change compared to Vancouver’s $1.5 billion budget and tinier still when divided by three levels of government and divided again for all the Howe Sound communities. That is, if we even see the money in the first place given that Woodfbre LNG owner Sukanto Tanoto has a well-documented history of fraud and tax evasion. The resource industry is notoriously volatile, requiring long-term investments in infrastructure to sell to markets that fluctuate rapidly.Is an unpredictable onetrick pony what we need for our local economy? According to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, BC is producing 40% more natural gas than a decade ago while receiving 2/3 less in revenues. After negotiations, the provincial government reduced its Royalty to just 0.5% of net profits, a number that will easily be manipulated through Sukanto Tanoto’s shell companies. Our provincial government has capped LNG property tax and there is provision for the carbon taxes to be forgiven. Once taxpayers pay for indirect and collateral costs of skilled labour training, safety response drills, ecological monitoring, site clean up and mitigation; will we see any nettax benefits at all? Unlikely. It is time to develop a comprehensive use and protection plan for Howe Sound, and Bowen Island needs to be part of the solution. We need to be strong voices advocating for a plan that will feature safety, sustainability, and economic resilience. The economic and human health of Metro Vancouver’s growing metropolis depends on balancing the effects of activity in our forests, waterways, and hillsides. Woodfibre LNG poses so many obvious risks while offering meager benefits. I urge Bowen Islanders to take an active stand to protect Howe Sound and our community’s future. Best regards, Betty Morton
6 • FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27 2015
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Tom Carchrae: the heart and mind behind the Bowen LIFT App Right: Tom Carchrae with daughters Bea and Claire on the trail in Bluewater. Michelle Carchrae, photo
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Tom Carchrae believes in what he does and as the app developer for the new Bowen LIFT app – he also sees direct community benefit of his work to Bowen Islanders. Tom and his family have been on Bowen for two years. After founding his company, Intellectica Technology Corporation, he decided that Bowen would be a great place to work and raise his family. His company develops software products to coordinate and optimize the use of resources, and builds prototypes for startups in Vancouver. With a Ph.D in computer science, he enjoys creating simple solutions to complex problems like figuring out the best way to connect riders and drivers using smartphone technology.
His first hitchhiking experience involving a ferry was in the 90s, as a student travelling from Cork to London, he hitched onto the ferry at Rosslare and ended up getting a ride all the way to London… in a Jaguar at that. Like many LIFTers, Tom is keen on ride-sharing – including hitching around West Cork - a slightly bigger rock than Bowen but with a similar culture of looking out for one another. His first hitchhiking experience involving a ferry was in the 90s, as a student travelling from Cork to London: he hitched onto the ferry at Rosslare and ended up getting a ride all the way to London… in a Jaguar at that. He first suggested the idea of an app on Bowen LIFT’s FaceBook page back in 2013. The Board of Bowen LIFT then worked with Tom to get additional funding from Environment Canada (they were very suppportive of the idea) to develop the app with Intellectica offering a significant in-kind contribution. The resulting app is a digital bulletin board where drivers and riders post their ride-share offer or request. The ferry can be used as a “central station” for scheduling ride sharing to the mainland, and back to the island. The app also provides concise travel information for both drivers and transit users, such as a Ferry page with % loading status, and a map page with the live locations for the ferry, 250/257 buses and shows traffic jams! Although the app has been designed for smartphones and tablets, it will also work with most recent web browsers on your home computer. Now that the app is launched, he says the key thing is to make ongoing development and maintenance of the app sustainable. We now have 95 registered users of the app and he hopes that people who are using FaceBook (some 373 registered) will also give the app a try. We would like people to try it and give us some feedback on what works and what doesn’t - remembering that it is a prototype, which can hopefully improve over time. The new Bowen LIFT app be found on the Bowen Lift website at bowenlift. com or directly at app.bowenlift.com or and on Facebook at facebook.com/ groups/bowenislandrideshare. It is free for all users – so give it a try soon!
10 • FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27 2015
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On the calendar FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27 Bowen Island Montessori Open House 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
AGORA Forum on Education 7 p.m. at the Gallery at Artisan Square
Legion Dinner Doors open at 5 p.m., dinner starts at 6:30
Karen Savoca, Pete Heitzman and Shari Ulrich 7:30 p.m. Tir-na-nOg
Sun Run week 6: Journal entry #1
TUESDAY MARCH 3 AA Meeting Collins Hall 7:15 p.m.
STEFANIA SHORTT SUBMISSION
WEDNESDAY MARCH 4 Knitting Circle 2 - 5 p.m. Bowen Court - All levels welcome! THURSDAY MARCH 5 Duplicate Bridge @ Bowen Court Call Irene @ 2955
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28 Youth Open Gym: 6 - 8:30 p.m. at BICS
The BFG: Dreams, Queens and Human Beans A family-friendly theatrical production based on Roald Dahl’s book, The BFG. Performed by Island Pacific School students. Tickets at IPS, Phoenix and the door, $12. 6:30 p.m. at Cates Hill Chapel Free shuttle bus from ferry (5:45 & 9).
SUNDAY MARCH 1 A Quiet Coming of Light An afternoon of poetry, music and dance 1:30 p.m. at Tir-na-nOg Theatre, tickets $20 are available at the door
FRIDAY MARCH 6 The BFG: Dreams, Queens and Human Beans Tickets at IPS, Phoenix and the door, $12. 6:30 p.m. at Cates Hill Chapel Free shuttle bus from ferry (5:45 & 9).
The Future of God Panel Discussion Bowen Island Yoga, 7:30 - 8 p.m.
MONDAY MARCH 2 Seniors Keeping Young No exercises 10 a.m. Intergenerational meeting with grades 6 and 7 students from BICS
Musical Family Fun Bowen Island Yoga, 11 a.m. With special guest Annie Becker
Start a new year in February from PAGE 7
Let’s go back to the beautiful yellow tulip and the promise of new beginnings. At this time last year we were on the tail end of a few snow days. The kids loved it! A few days ago my youngest came home full of kindergarten in his eyes, expounding on how “Its SPRING!!! And new things are GROWING mama!!!” This February, we have pussy willows, the beginning of blossoms, and yes, even tulips. We’ve been blessed
Places of Worship Welcome You
church directory; 4.417 in; Black; -; R001969928
BOWEN ISLAND UNITED CHURCH Service and Sunday School: 10:30 a.m. Collins Hall Bookings: Helen Wallwork Minister of Music: Lynn Williams
FOOD BANK DROP-OFF
BOWEN ISLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH Pastor Clinton Neal 1070 Miller Road 604-947-0384 Service 10:30 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m.
ST. GERARD’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Mass: 10:30 a.m. Priest: Father James Comey
604-988-6304
CATES HILL CHAPEL www.cateshillchapel.com 604-947-4260
(661 Carter Rd.)
10:00 a.m. Worship • Sunday School: Tots to Teens Pastor: Dr. James B. Krohn
HEALTH & WELLNESS
health; 6.917 in; Black; -; R001982195
with cold clear nights with warm inspiring days. We’re a few months early into the season of birth, of new possibility, and of beginnings. What do you say we run with it? What if you let February be your new January? What would you begin or reinvest in if you let yourself believe that this time, this moment, this second is completely and absolutely yours to grow in to? Spring light first sight, of tulips to my delight... Oh Bowen you inspired me again.
Rev. Shelagh MacKinnon
I hate running. Hate it. Hate it. Hate it. I love to dance. I danced ballet and contemporary for thirty hours a week for most of my young adult life. Running is a misery to do and a ludicrous spectacle to witness. “Who is chasing you?” I used to think to myself watching the people jog by on the sea wall of English Bay. Certainly there is a philosophical point to running – that whole health and fitness thing – but isn’t the whole point of health and fitness to make you happy for a long time? What is the point of it all if it is a misery? That was me five years ago, when it was brought to my attention that I was no longer fitting into a tutu. I tried to do the Sun Run training program on my own, gasping around Kilarney lake like a lunatic because I thought it was something I should do. That was me four months ago, even, when Tyler and Shelley talked me into signing up for the training session. That was me up until Saturday, January 17 when I started the Sun Run Training group. That is not me anymore. I love running, now. I really, really love it. The Learn to Run Training program starts at one minute running and one walking (8 times) and it builds from there. The first week’s “tough run” of one minute of running is hilarious, because the rule is that if you are running faster than someone who is walking beside you, you are running too fast. Ooooh, I love this, she thinks to herself. I love it. You finish the session and all you have in your pocket is endorphins and glowing skin. Woo hoo! Now we’re in week six and doing five minutes of running followed by one of walking seven times, so, let’s be fair, that’s 35 minutes of running with little, tiny, itty, bitty breaks, and we’re not even half way through our training! I think it would be fair to say that we are kind of actually running. Here’s what I love about the Learn to Run Sun Run Training Group:
• Attendance: It gets you there. There is no way I am getting up at 7:30 am on a rainy Saturday to slosh in the cold mud all by myself. The leaders and the members of the training group are waiting at the school for us – we meet, have a pep talk, have a group warm-up, hit the road. It’s week six and I haven’t missed one. • The loop: You can go as slow as you want – in fact, you’re encouraged to! But if you do find yourself straggling behind (yes, that would be me), you will soon hear a cacophonous cry of “LOOP!!” and the vision of tens of runners circling around to pull up behind you will appear. We’re running for time, not distance, at this point, so turning back and circling around is all a part of the training. Keeps the group together, keeps us all supported and paced. • The leaders: Jo Quarry, Sharon Slugget, Paul Rickett, Amanda Oeckleon, Karen Heath, Rob Forbes, David Demner…. They all give you fantastic tips such as “slow down,” “ align your feet,” and my favourite, “stop moving so much!” (Think Phoebe from the TV show Friends jogging through Central Park! If you can’t conjure up that image, ask Sonja to show you – she does a spectacular imitation!) •The group: Lots of people to arrange a run with during the week for our two “homework” sessions. • The perks: Free gym membership for the three months, a cool Sun Run t-shirt, bag and power bars, website ideas and fantastic presentations. • The presenters: Experts are invited to come in to talk about gear, nutrition and other incredibly inspirational topics! I have friends who are in the Run Stronger Sun Run Training group. We all meet together on Saturday mornings for the presentation and the warm up before we go our separate ways. I hear that they do intervals like “run slowly for five minutes” and then “run really fast for five”. I can’t even bear to think about that right now, but I wish them well. But they also need to know… we are chasing you!
InHabit
Somatic Centre
Dr. Utah Zandy 604-947-9830
BOWEN ISLAND MASSAGE THERAPY @ #597 Wellness Centre & #595 next door!! 604-947-9755 EXT #1 TEXT: 604-653-9755
At entrance to Artisan Square Suite #597
MARY MCDONAGH RMT
CATHERINE SHAW
Ball Rolling Classes T’ai Chi Chih (778) 952-3757 Breathe Move Touch
CALL FOR APPOINTMENT OPEN TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS
Psychologist
Dr. Susanne Schloegl
BODY VITALITY MASSAGE THERAPY
566 Artisan Square Somatic Patterning Massage Craniosacral Therapy
Dr. Carolyn Nesbitt PhD, R.Psych #1484
604-376-9801 www.CarolynNesbitt.com
Contact Maureen to advertise in this space. 604-947-2442
ads@bowenislandundercurrent.com
M.D.
Open Mon.Wed. Thurs. Fri. Call for an appointment Artisan Square
OPEN 7 days a week!
HARMONY SHIRE RMT ROBYN IZARD RMT ALICIA HOPPENRATH RMT designation pending
778-996-5911
Celebrating 27 years Community Healthcare
Now 7 days a week! James Goldfarb RMT Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon 604-288-2860 Jenni Griffiths RMT Tue, Wed, Thur 604-240-6485
604-947-9986
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Dr. Dana Barton
Dr. Gloria Chao
Naturopathic Physician 596 B. Artisan Square
604-730-1174 Natural Family Medicine
Family Dentist
Artisan Square 604-947-0734 Alternate Fridays 10am - 4:30pm Horseshoe Bay 604-921-8522 www.bowenislanddental.com
Dr. Traditional Chinese Medicine/Acupuncturist
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MARY MCDONAGH RMT, DCH Registered Massage Therapist
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SANDY LOGAN Registered Physiotherapist
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COURTNEY MORRIS R.Ac, DCH Acupuncturist / Homeopath
BLOOD TESTS, URINE TESTS OR ECGS
6:45 - 9:00 A.M. EVERY THURSDAY DR. ZANDY’S OFFICE
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Heart month may be over, but heart health is still on the agenda!
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27 2015 • 7
February is the new January
A tulip at Caroline Walker’s Bowen Island Flower Shop up at Artisan Square. Tina Overbury, photo
TINA OVERBURY CONTRIBUTOR
Amanda Ockeloen and Sandy Logan show off an Automated External Defibrilator (AED). Joanne Mogridge in the background.
Cathryn Robertson, photo
SANDY LOGAN SUBMISSION
As many of you might be aware, February is heart smart month. While Valentine’s Day has come and gone and March is fast approaching, Amanda Ockeloen and Sandy Logan are pairing up to remind you about the importance of looking after your heart all year round. Over the next few weeks we will be presenting a series of articles about heart health and CPR training so stay tuned.
“Look, the first tulip,” says Karen Munro of The Bowen Island Dog Ranch. I look down but can’t see it. These busy city eyes of mine keep missing it. “There, turn around, you walked right passed it,” she says smiling. I’m five years on Bowen and am still picking up on the seasonal rituals of this place and the meaning behind them. True to her excitement, a lovely yellow bud had flowered as a result of our crazy February sunshine. I wonder if seeing the first tulip is much like catching the first star of the night. Starlight star bright the first star I see tonight... What wish will I make? I think as I carry on with my day. Spring light first sight of tulips to my delight... I wish I may I wish I might... to make February my new January and start my year off right. Okay, the rhyme
is kind of cheesy, but isn’t it true that this is the time of year where things start to fall apart? Our best laid fitness plans, health kicks and happiness goals start to feel too hard to accomplish and our promises to ourselves begin to erode into old habits that keep us the same. Wouldn’t it be nice to start over? Last year Fawn Gill of The Gym on Bowen Island told me that the fitness industry is now calling February the new January. From a marketing perspective it makes sense but feels kind of empty, forgetting of course that all good marketing campaigns are driven by the psychology of our audience. We WANT a new beginning. We want the BELIEF that we can start again, or simply get started if we haven’t already. I’m not your typical sporty person, but I do love the mindset of athletes and the great ones like Fawn have figured out the connection between “Just Do It” and “I’m Worth It”. So what would you begin this month, or even next month if you could let yourself start? It’s not about resolutions or do-or-die goals (those never work for me because I’m an achiever and so I’ll be the one dying as I cross the finish line), it’s not about keeping your word. It is about giving yourself the gift of choice: choosing to step forward into what you envisioned during the first week of January when you had the wind of a new 2015 at your back. This coming Monday marks 60 days into the new year and on this island home of ours we seem to buy into the illusion of fast time passage, unless of course we’re talking about the ferry refit. How many times have you have heard “I can’t wait until that ferry fixing thing is done. I just can’t wait!” January 5th to May 5th seems like an impossible amount of time to have to deal with inconvenience, but 60 days of procrastinating on our dreams, our goals, and our potential, whips by us in a flash. It’s not like we don’t know this, but still, it bares repeating for our own sanity and gentle kick in the pants: time doesn’t actually move at all, either we do, or we don’t.
continued, PAGE 10
HK Strategies; 6.917 in; Process color; -; R011952523
Community Benefits As a proud contributor to a vibrant Squamish, we are already providing financial support to youth sports and education programs as well as community events and other local groups. If our project goes ahead, we look forward to bringing responsible economic development to the community through local jobs, contracts and other contributions.
Environmental Stewardship We are working to be good stewards of the local environment, both on land and in the water. By powering with electricity, we’re making our plant one of the cleanest LNG facilities in the world. We’re also cleaning up the Woodfibre site, which has been home to industry for more than 100 years.
Woodfibre LNG B U I L D I N G A P R O J E C T T H AT ’S R I G H T F O R S Q UA M I S H .
Community Involvement From the very beginning, we’ve worked closely with people throughout the community. At Woodfibre LNG, we’ve held hundreds of meetings, opened a community office, and hosted telephone town halls. Why? Because what matters to Squamish matters to us. By listening to the community and responding to your priorities, we can build a project that is right for Squamish, and right for BC.
Building a project that’s right for Squamish. That’s our number one priority. woodfibrelng.ca
We are continuing to meet with people in Squamish – answering your questions, listening to you and acting on your priorities. This has led to meaningful change to our project, like addressing concerns about the potential for marine noise by moving our proposed floating LNG plant onto land.
Marine Safety We will meet the highest marine safety standards, including ensuring all of our LNG carriers are escorted by three powerful tugboats and guided by BC Coast Pilots who are experts on BC’s coast. We’re also working with commercial and recreational users of Squamish Harbour to develop a plan that ensures the safe shared use of the harbour during the construction and operation of the project.
WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM
Council moves forward on LNG from PAGE 1
On the subject of shipping liquid natural gas, Finn explained that the tankers that will travel past both Bowyer and Bowen Islands will be double the size of the largest BC Ferries, and will contain highly explosive materials to nearby populations. Acting mayor Alison Morse allowed for a short question and answer period regarding Finn’s presentation. Councillor Sue Ellen Fast asked Finn whether, in all his research he found any benefits that the Howe Sound Community would derive from the Woodfibre Project. He replied by stating that the number of jobs likely to be gained would be minimal, but the City of Squamish would add $2 million per year to its tax base. Councillor Maureen Nicholson asked Finn whether there might be any benefits to Bowen - to which he stated no, and that the tourism industry here was likely to suffer. Morse proceeded to offer up a more specific line of questioning for Finn, asking him if he was aware of the size of a ship called the Diamond Princess. “We have had these ships in the Sound and it is my understanding that they are the same size as these tankers,” said Morse. “My second question is about your comment about the Coast Guard study and what could happen. How big a hole does it have to be before that happens?”
Finn said a 15 foot hole in the tanker could result in the worst case scenarioof liquified natural gas spreading 3,500 metres from the tanker and, with one small spark, erupting into a giant fireball. “A fifteen foot hole, going at 5 knots in Howe Sound, would be highly unlikely,” said Morse. Finn replied that it may be highly unlikely, but the consequence, however minimal, would be disproportionately large. After several other statements questioning Finn, Morse suggested that council delay their decision to make comments on the Woodfibre project until after hearing from a delegation sent by LNG BC and the Chamber of Shipping. However, councillors Fast, Nicholson, Mason and Mayor Skeels voted to move forward on making comments. Speaking remotely from Palm Springs, Mayor Skeels added that he has so many problems with the project, that despite his dis-satisfaction of the wording of the motion put forward by councillor Fast on how to proceed, he would support it. Councillor Gary Ander, who voted against moving forward on the issue immediately, says he was bothered by the feeling that proper process would require hearing from both detractors and opponents of the project.
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27 2015 • 9
Talking about Bowen with MLA Sturdy from PAGE 2 “He was asking what we needed in order to keep the Express Bus to downtown running,” says Nicholson. “He’s clearly been paying attention to our transportation and ferry issues.” Another topic of conversation Ganong and Nicholson brought up to Sturdy is the fact that Bowen Island is unable to apply for various forms of provincial funding that other, comparable communities can apply for, because it is attached to Metro Vancouver and not considered to be rural. “There is a serious inequity here,” says Ganong. “There are trust funds that other regions have been able to access for nearly a decade now, that we don’t even have a chance at.” Councillor Nicholson says that MLA Sturdy will work on resolving this issue when he meets with Bowen’s council, either in March or April. She says another issue that is likely to come up at this meeting is Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) and specifically, the proposed Woodfibre LNG export facility.
“We brought this up, and Sturdy expressed his disappointment at the public response to this project,” says councillor Nicholson. “He said people are being short-sited, and encouraged Bowen to look beyond its borders. I told him we are looking beyond our borders, and Gordon [Ganong] brought up the issue of tourism and how that part of our economy will be affected on Bowen. Sturdy said it is unwise to focus too much on one particular area of the economy.” Councillor Nicholson says the conversation lasted about 10 minutes, before they moved on to other topics. “We also wanted to thank him,” she says about the meeting. “He has helped Bowen on many issues, including getting better signage on the highway exits near Horseshoe Bay, the province’s work with Destination BC and their shift to recognizing small and rural communities, the work on the mitigation strategy while the Queen of Capilano is out of service, and also – we have been very fortunate to have been given an economic development liason with the Ministry of Job Skills and Training.”
Promoting Bowen businesses at the Outdoor Adventure Show! Bruce Russell, Rebecca Henderson and Alan Mills at last year’s Outdoor Adventure Show.
Student-led education at Island Discovery from PAGE 3
This student-led approach is clearly demonstrated with an explanation of IDLC’s new music program. The program is taught and was also built by Cynthia Fairbank, who has been teaching at IDLC since the teacher’s strike ended this October. “I started out by renting a whole bunch of instruments from Long and McQuade, just so the kids could get a feel for different instruments and figure out what they liked,” says Fairbank. “After that, they created a wish list of their top three instruments. I sent that list out to the IDLC community, and it just so happened that there were enough spare violins and saxophones in people’s closets that just about every kid got the instrument they wanted.” Fairbank says that her classroom is very democratic, with the kids leading the way with their own interests. “They’ll tell me all the songs they like and want to learn to play, I’ll go home and listen to the music and narrow it down, and then the class takes a
vote,” she says. “Every kid feels like he or she has a voice, it is very empowering. But regardless of what song we pick we follow the process of talking about the musical elements of the song and figuring out how to play it. Through that, we manage to follow the curriculum.” Cynthia also says that for her, this process is exciting because the learning that happens is a two way street. “In one of my classes the kids are really into video games, and video game music. I’ve never heard of any of the artists who created this music, but some of it is really great, and it is really interesting to figure out how we’re going to play it together.” For those interested in learning more about the program, contact Al Saugstad at 604947-0700 or check out their website at www. islanddiscovery.ca. For those looking at Kindergarten registration for next year, there will be an information meeting held on Tuesday, March 31st, from 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.
The real-deal Malaysian on Main St.
from PAGE 8
Classic Malaysian dishes like Chicken and Prawn Laksa, Mee Goreng, Bee Hoon, Char Kway Teow are on offer. There’s no liquor license, just water and tea. Cash only. Much like a real hawker stand, you order and pay, then find a seat (if you can!). Your meal will be brought to your table when it’s ready. There’s a reason why this place consistently ranks higher in reviews on Yelp and Urban Spoon than second-
rate outlets like the Banana Leaf. It’s consistently hovering at or near the top of the list in the Georgia Straight’s “Best Of Vancouver” poll. It’s simply the real deal. It doesn’t pretend to be fine dining. It’s just good, inexpensive, authentic food in a truly unpretentious setting. Those tattooed hipsters with the ironic facial hair may be profoundly irritating, but they do know a good food thing when they taste it. So by all means, run screaming. Run directly to Hawker’s Delight. It could be a life-changing moment.
ALAN MILLS SUBMISSION
Once again, a small band of hardy and adventuresome Bowen volunteers are headed across the waters to represent you and your business! This year we have data that proves this is an excellent venue to promote our island businesses. The Visitors’ Exit Survey sponsored by the Economic Development Committee and conducted last summer provided us with some irrefutable facts. Over 300 on-line surveys were collected and analyzed. The goal was to understand why visitors come to Bowen, it also asked for demographic information. Who are these visitors, where DO they come from, etc.? Seventy-two percent (72%) of our visitors are from Metro Vancouver and of those, forty-five percent (45%) are from the city of Vancouver. Almost half (48%) stated that they are visiting for a short getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city. Sixty-five (65%) come as part of a family group. Thirty percent (30%) are between the ages of 20-37. Last year the Outdoor Adventure Show attracted over 20,000 local outdoor enthusiasts. Our booth handed out over 1100 experience Bowen guides and hundreds of business’s brochures while chatting up Bowen’s allure to everyone passing by. Unlike other communities attending the show, we receive no financial support from the Bowen Island Municipality. Our small teams of Bowen promoters work for free; we are strictly enthusiastic volunteers! We need your help! • a small (or better big!) contribution for a prize draw basket that we use to collect email addresses of potential visitors. • pitch in with a financial contribution to pay for the booth, power, printing, transportation, ferry, hotel, etc.. • both a & b !
Donations, prizes & your brochures can be dropped off at Fabulous Finds by Thursday, March 5th. If you’re interested in working the booth with us please call Alan Mills at. the Bowen Tech Shop, 604947-2055 CORMORANT MARINE; 5.2027 in; Black; -; R001949599
DEPARTS SUN to THURS FRI & SAT SNUG COVE 11:15PM 12:15AM HORSESHOE BAY 11:30PM 12:30AM
OPERATING 7 DAYS A WEEK
Proudly Celebrating Over 36 Years of Trusted Transport for Bowen Island & Howe Sound Telephone: 604-947-2243 Cellular: 604-250-2630 24 Hour Service Special Event Cruises PRIVATE CHARTERS AVAILABLE ANYTIME
email: cormorantmarine@telus.net web: cormorantwatertaxi.com
604-947-2243
Since 1978
8 • FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27 2015
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Hawker’s Delight: As close to a Singaporean food-court as you’ll get, this side of the Ocean ROB BAILEY FAVOURITE THINGS
Delightful Laksa soup at Hawkers Delight, 4127 Main St Vancouver. 12 p.m- 9 p.m. Cash only. Vegan Friendly. caring circle
; 3.417 in; Black; -; R001983955
CARING CIRCLE HEALTH AND WELLNESS SOCIETY OF BOWEN ISLAND
FIRST ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - ALL WELCOME
MARCH 11, 2015 COLLINS HALL - 7 - 9 P.M. LIGHT REFRESHMENTS SERVED WE WILL HAVE A SLIDE PRESENTATION ABOUT THE WORK WE’RE DOING, WHICH WILL INCLUDE STORIES FROM ISLANDERS ABOUT THE WAYS THAT THE WORK OF CARING CIRCLE HAS IMPACTED THEIR LIVES
REGULAR SCHEDULE BC Ferries REGULAR SCHEDULE January 5 to 31, In Effect May 15 March to October 13,2015 2014
ferry schedule; 4.917 in; Black; -; R001970765
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BOWEN ISLAND Snug Cove
Leave Snug Cove
6:00 am 6:00 am 7:00 am** 7:00 am 8:00 am * 8:00 am 9:00 am† 9:05 am# † 10:00 am 10:05 am 11:00 am 11:05 am 12:00 pm 12:10 pm 1:30 pm^ 2:35 pm 2:25 pm 3:45 pm 4:45 pm 3:30 pm 5:50 pm 4:30 pm * 6:50 pm 5:30 pm 7:50 pm 6:30 pm * 8:40 pm 7:30 pm*# 9:40 pm 8:30 pm# 9:30 pm
Distance: 3 NAUTICAL MILES Crossing Time: 20 MINUTES
Leave Horseshoe Bay
5:30 am** 5:30 am 6:30 am** 6:30 am 7:30 am** 7:30 am 8:30 am * 8:35 am 9:30 am 9:35 am 10:30 am# 10:35 am 11:30 am 11:40 am 12:30 pm 12:45 pm 1:30 pm^ 3:10 pm 3:00 pm 4:15 pm 4:00 pm†† 5:15 pm 5:00 pm* 6:20 pm 6:00 pm 7:20 pm 7:00 pm** 8:15 pm # 8:00 pm# 9:10 pm 9:00 pm 10:05 pm 10:00 pm
VANCOUVER Horseshoe Bay
*
DAILY EXCEPT SATURDAYS # DAILY EXCEPT DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAYS SUNDAYS
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DAILY EXCEPT DAILY EXCEPT SATURDAYS & SATURDAYS SUNDAYS & SUNDAYS
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DAILY EXCEPT DAILY EXCEPT SAT, SUN SAT, SUN && MAYFEB. 19, JUL 9 1, AUG 4, SEPT 1 & OCT† 13 THE WEDNESDAY SAILINGS WILL BE REPLACED BY DANGEROUS THE WEDNESDAY CARGO SAILINGS. SAILINGS WILL NO OTHER BE REPLACED PASSENGERS BY DANGEROUS PERMITTED. CARGO SAILINGS. NO OTHER ^WED & MAR. PASSENGERS 5-6,PERMITTED. 12-13, 19-20 & 26-27 ONLY
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It was one of those life-changing moments: freshly married, my new wife and I stepped off of a flight from Calcutta into the ultra-modern airport in Singapore. We were in shock. It was only a few short hours ago that we had left the choked and dusty chaos of Calcutta after spending several weeks travelling all over India. We had met and dined with maharajas. We had gingerly stepped over entire sleeping families of barely clothed beggars on the sidewalks on the way back to our various lodgings, nimbly placing sandaled feet between them so as not to wake them up. We had survived terrifying night bus journeys on “semi-deluxe” coaches driven by drivers so alcohol-perfumed, that they inspired us to spontaneously pray to the multicolored idols that festooned front of the vehicle. Any port in a storm… Now, as we rolled down the Eastern Parkway with our dusty backpacks in the trunk of a brand new BMW taxi, we experienced reverse culture shock. Instead of a teeming urban sprawl that resembled a crumbling New York City with livestock, we gazed in awe out of the taxi window at the celebration of orderliness that is Singapore. Freshly paved roads, where drivers not only observed the rules of the road, they actually stayed inside the crisply painted lines! Some landscape architect had planted palm trees in such a precisely spaced way that they resembled background textures in a racing video game. And it was so cool! Only 34 Celsius! Checking into our budget hotel, our amazement continued. The phone worked! The toilet flushed! Air conditioning! The unimaginable luxury of hot AND cold running water! We collapsed onto the bed, turned on the Armed Forces Network TV station, and passed out. Upon waking, we realized that we had not eaten in a while, and Singapore was supposed to be a food town, although we had yet to discover what that actually meant. We ventured outside the hotel, and mentally flipped a coin to decide which direction to walk in. We turned right, and stumbled on a tiny food court. Now the words “food court” do not exactly summon up visions of fine dining. For me, it was more memories of going to Brentwood Mall with my mother and, after much begging and pleading, being allowed to have an Orange Julius and a Hot Dog, covered in some fluorescent orange sauce that hinted at, but never really fully delivered on, the promise of cheese. When my few remaining synapses fired long enough to dredge up this dismal culinary memory
to the frontal lobes, it triggered a “fight or flight” response to say the least. Flee! Flee now! Run from the unnamed sauce of orangeness! Save yourself! My wife, having spent portions of her life growing up in Hong Kong and Taiwan, was not so easily frightened off. She had read somewhere that some of the “food courts” in Singapore might actually be good. Turns out, she had a penchant for understatement… We walked into a smallish space with some tables in the middle and eight or ten small stalls, each only a few feet wide lining the perimeter of the room. The menu might as well have been in Greek, because all of the dishes on offer were completely unknown to me. Fortunately, there were pictures! I chose a clam Laksa, the picture of which most closely resembled the bowl of won ton soup that I was familiar with. The gentleman behind the counter nodded and took my two Singapore dollars with a smile.
Coconut milk and chicken broth with
slippery white noodles, all peppered
with the local cockles, which have a
somewhat more livery taste than our
local butter clams.
I was quite unprepared for the cognitive dissonance that I experienced when my clam laksa arrived. I was in a food court? Coconut milk and chicken broth with slippery white noodles, all peppered with the local cockles, which have a somewhat more livery taste than our local butter clams. There was lemon grass in there, shallot, garlic, turmeric, and… and… and… I lost my ability to decode the wonderfulness that I was tasting for the first time. The concept of the food court in Singapore was the result of the government consolidating all the city’s disparate street food stalls, called “hawker stands” into clusters in larger buildings. The government implemented new regulations and standards for quality and cleanliness, thus ensuring that a diner could enjoy a reasonably priced meal without spending the next 24 hours driving the porcelain bus. Every Singaporean has his or her favourite stand for a particular dish, and these opinions are fiercely debated in the online forums. As everything else in Singapore is basically illegal, this debate amounts to one of the few recreational outlets available to the citizens of Singapore. I’ve written about a few Malaysian and Singaporean food places HOME FARMS GARDEN; 4.917 in; Black; -; R001978470 in this column. There are some good ones in Vancouver to be sure. However, one stands out in particular for it’s adherence to the true ethos of the hawker stall. There is a tiny restaurant on the west side of Main Street, a few doors south of King Edward. Nestled in this enclave of antiques stores and hipster cafes, you will find Hawker’s Delight, the closest damn thing to a real hawker stall on this side of the ocean. It’s pretty close to the real deal. For one, it’s tiny! There’s only 6 or 7 tables, with 5 stools along one wall. It’s family-run (as it should be), and it has the requisite picture-menu posted above the counter, with only about a dozen things on it.
Local, family owned and operated, Landscape Company are now hiring Lawn Maintenance Crew and Landscape installation. Please send resume to rosie@homefarm.ca or call
604-947-6995
We look forward to hearing from you.
Spring has Sprung!
continued, PAGE 9
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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27 2015 • 11
12 • FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27 2015
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Bowen Children’s Centre goes Wild West BOWEN ISLAND CHILDREN’S CENTRE SUBMISSION
On Saturday, Feb 21st, Bowen Children’s Centre hosted their “Wild” fundraiser at the Bowen Island Legion with Western flare. The Chili Cook Off quickly became a very steamy competition amongst: Adele “The Deliverer” Turner, Alan “The New Kid” Szeto, Andrea “Where’s the Beef ” Bastin, and Frank “The Soup Fairy” Patt. The Soup Fairy’s traditional flavour with a kick,
scooped the number one spot however, special mention must go to Adele’s corn bread which she whipped up in order to win over a few votes. Party goers were entertained by local band, The Rolling Stalones as well as games and prizes. Allan Financial generously sponsors this fundraiser every year in support of BCC’s Gail Taylor Bursary Fund. BCC would like to thank the organizers - you ROCK, the Legion for the great venue, Paul Winny for his amazing “photo booth,” AND the highlight of the evening... line dancing with Ms. Sarah!
Winner of the Chili Cook Off, Frank “The Soup Fairy “ Patt.
Dayna Purdy, photo
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MAKE MUSIC WITH A BLACK SHEEP If you make an $80 donation to Get the Flock Off the Rock, Bob Doucet will give you lessons on the guitar, ukelele or mandolin. Other perks in the crowdfunding campaign include: • a one-hour tutorial in holography • a computer tune-up by Matthews IT Consulting • a private Morris Dance performance • pins, badges and t-shirts To claim your perk go to
/blacksheep
Please send your requests to Maureen Sawasy at: ads@bowenislandundercurrent.com THANK YOU! The Undercurrent